This is not a legislative bill but a governor's message (GM 1315) confirming the signing of HB159 into law on June 25, 2025. It does not describe policy changes but formally notifies the legislature that HB159 - relating to civil service exemptions for qualified community rehabilitation programs - has become law. The actual bill text (HB159) amends Hawaii Revised Statutes §76-77 regarding civil service exemptions, but this message itself contains no policy content. Procedural notifications like this require no detailed policy summary.
HB1159 establishes a working group within Hawaii's Department of Transportation to address emergency evacuation procedures for commercial harbors. The group will review current laws, assess whether harbor space can accommodate all vessels during evacuations, and evaluate penalties for non-compliance. It includes state transportation committee chairs, the Coast Guard captain of the port, and representatives from harbor users like shipping companies, fishing associations, and cruise lines. The working group must submit its findings and recommendations to the legislature by 2027 and will dissolve on June 30, 2027.
This document is a formal notice that Governor Green signed SB1526 into law on June 25, 2025, not a substantive bill itself. SB1526 extends the deadline for establishing Hawaii's state drug and alcohol toxicology testing laboratory from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2028. This extension provides additional time for the Department of Health and county governments to build, equip, and operationalize the laboratory. The law affects state and county health agencies responsible for implementing the toxicology testing system.
This bill (SB 934, Act 218) increases the special fund ceiling for Hawaii's mass transit special fund for fiscal year 2025-2026. It appropriates $572,695,000 to fund specific rail transit project work outlined in the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation's 2022 recovery plan. The funds are directly allocated to complete the Waiawa Pearl Highlands station access ramp and prioritize remaining funds for a Pearl Highlands park-and-ride facility and the Ala Moana extension. This action addresses budget carry-over balances and fulfills obligations from the federal recovery plan for the Honolulu rail project.
SB1281, now Act 217, temporarily modifies Hawaii's telehealth regulations. New rules take effect on July 1, 2025, and will expire on December 31, 2027, after which the telehealth regulations in place before this bill automatically resume. The bill does not change Hawaii's permanent telehealth law but establishes a two-year transition period for telehealth services. This affects telehealth providers and patients in Hawaii by creating a temporary regulatory framework.
HB1348 establishes a public lottery system for leasing cabins on Hawaii's public lands (including state parks and forest reserves) for "recreation-residence" use, defined as part-time, occasional recreational living not intended for continuous occupancy by the lessee or their family. The law requires the Board of Land and Natural Resources to lease these cabins via lottery (not public auction) for terms up to 20 years, with renewal options for lessees in "good standing" (full lease compliance). Renewal rents must adjust every five years using the GDP deflator, and the board must enforce lease terms with standardized penalties for violations. This directly affects individuals or entities seeking to lease public land cabins for recreational purposes.
This bill, Act 222, updates Hawaii's moped safety laws. It requires rental companies to provide safety helmets for moped renters (unless the renter brings their own helmet) and sets a minimum age of 16 for operating a moped on public roads. Riders under 18 must wear a helmet secured with a chin strap, with exceptions for those holding a motorcycle license. These provisions apply to all moped operators in Hawaii, directly affecting renters, minors, and rental businesses.
This bill (HB648) establishes a two-year pilot program in Honolulu's first circuit courts to provide free legal and medical resources for individuals involved in guardianship or conservatorship cases who cannot afford them. It mandates court-appointed "kokua kanawai" (advocates who assess personal circumstances), guardians ad litem (representatives for the individual's best interests), and professional evaluations (like psychological or neurocognitive assessments) when the court deems them necessary. The program, funded by $50,000 from state general revenues, ensures these resources are available to all eligible respondents regardless of financial means. The judiciary must report on the program's outcomes - including participation rates and recommendations for continuation - to the legislature by 2026.
This bill allows individual wastewater systems to serve up to five bedrooms across multiple dwelling units or accessory structures, regardless of whether they're attached or detached. It addresses a gap in current rules that previously prohibited certain property configurations (like guest houses without kitchens or exterior bedrooms) from using these systems. The change applies to existing systems but does not permit new connections to existing cesspools. This policy change directly affects homeowners, property developers, and county wastewater administrators in Hawaii.
This bill (SB1245, enacted as Act 220) requires all health insurance plans in Hawaii to cover services provided by licensed pharmacists within their existing scope of practice. Starting July 1, 2026, insurers must recognize pharmacists as participating providers, cover the same services they would for other healthcare providers (like medication counseling or diabetes management), and reimburse pharmacists for those services. It directly affects health insurers, pharmacists, and patients who rely on pharmacy-based care, particularly in areas with physician shortages. The law aims to expand access to pharmacist-led health services without changing what pharmacists are legally allowed to do.
This bill (HB1231) creates a $5 annual vehicle registration surcharge for motor vehicle owners in Hawaii, effective December 31, 2025, to fund the "safe routes to school" program. It also prohibits the use of facial recognition software in photo red light and automated speed enforcement systems, while clarifying citation procedures for these systems. The surcharge revenue will be deposited into a dedicated special fund managed by the state. The law directly affects all Hawaii vehicle registrants and aims to improve traffic safety in high-risk areas, particularly near schools.
This bill (SB326) establishes new requirements for state revolving funds in Hawaii. It mandates that such funds must clearly serve a need, link user charges directly to program benefits, be used only when essential, and be financially self-sustaining without relying on general fund appropriations. State agencies creating or maintaining revolving funds must now demonstrate these criteria through detailed planning and annual financial projections. The law aims to prevent revolving funds from becoming a substitute for standard budgeting processes while ensuring they remain necessary and sustainable.
